Clay did not respond to the voice outside. Well, he could hear it clearly. But it somehow felt distant.
Not really that important.
Because right now, something far more serious occupied his mind.
Just a moment ago, mana had been flowing through him. It was steady, calm, familiar, and flowing naturally like breathing.
But now…
Well, it is now gone.
Not just gone, it was completely gone that he couldn't feel a single trace of it.
The absence was so deep that it made his chest feel hollow.
Clay decided to shut his eyes tightly.
He reached inward, searching for the energy he had nurtured and cultivated for years.
Yet after trying different methods, there was nothing.
No resistance from his body, no response from Mana and not even a single trace of it.
His body felt like an empty shell.
He stood still.
Not moving, not speaking, in that moment, time seemed to slow.
Then—
He slowly exhaled so deep.
The breath left his lungs in a long, quiet release.
Then he did it again.
Then again and again and again and again.
And strangely…
The supposed anger, disappointment, helplessness and despair seemed to not come.
Maybe for now it didn't but right now, he couldn't deny that he felt so free.
It felt like something heavy inside his chest that's been bugging for a long time had disappeared.
"…So this is what it feels like."
Clay leaned against the desk, letting his weight rest fully. He breathed out again, deeper this time. Then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's really gone."
There was no sadness in his voice, no regret, only acceptance.
No… it was more than that.
It was a relief.
He lifted his head and looked outside.
The field was far, it stretched far into the distance that his eyes couldn't see. But he didn't care how big it was, the importance was on how they looked peaceful.
Yep… It was brighter than he remembered earlier, they were so clear and far far more colorful.
For years, he had chased power, endured a lot of intense training and quietly disciplined himself.
All for this
To be gone in an instant.
Yet somehow…
He felt better.
Like invisible chains had fallen away from him.
"I see," Clay murmured.
"That thing earlier… it was rushing everything."
His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought back.
"There was a script. A role I was meant to play."
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
"But now I'm useless to it."
He shook his head.
"Well… good."
The smile on his face became more natural.
"If losing everything makes me unqualified…"
He looked back toward the open sky.
"Then that means I don't have to follow its story anymore."
A strange excitement began to rise within him.
Clay laughed.
He had escaped a villain's fate.
He was about to celebrate that freedom when a small sound echoed inside his mind.
Ding!
Clay froze.
A bright window appeared in front of his eyes again.
The Host has discovered a suitable target for the Harem Pampering System. Would you like to activate it?
Clay stared at the floating screen.
His expression slowly became stiff.
Several seconds passed.
He did not move.
He simply read the message again and again while his eyes narrowed.
A cold feeling crawled along his spine.
The smile on his face disappeared.
"…You again."
His voice turned serious.
Clay stepped backward slowly as if the floating screen itself could attack him.
His gaze hardened.
"I told you already. I refuse my fate."
His voice became sharper.
"I'm not going to become some dog for someone else's entertainment."
The screen blinked once.
Ding!
The Host does not need to worry.
This system does not require the Host to return to the storyline or fulfill the role of a minor villain.
Clay frowned.
The message continued.
This system is a research model designed to observe compatibility with hosts.
Clay folded his arms.
"Huh?"
His suspicion only grew.
"Why would I believe that?"
The screen remained calm.
Because the Host was almost chosen by another system. As an almost previous holder of this system. It is more efficient to test compatibility with a candidate familiar with systems instead of searching for a new subject.
Clay blinked slowly.
"What do you mean by that?"
The system replied without hesitation.
You may consider yourself a beta tester.
Clay stared at the glowing window for several seconds before scratching his chin.
"A beta tester."
He repeated the words slowly.
"So basically you want to experiment on me."
You may describe it that way.
Clay narrowed his eyes.
"And why would I agree to that?"
He pointed at the screen.
"You already took my cultivation once."
The system responded calmly.
The Host may perform a trial. If the Host is not satisfied, the system will detach and leave.
Clay did not answer immediately.
He studied the window in silence.
The offer sounded simple.
Yet the previous system had also sounded convincing.
For several moments the room remained quiet.
Then Clay suddenly spoke toward the door.
"Come in."
Clay poured himself tea and left it at that.
He can't come up with something on what to do next. Not until he understood what was going on around him
The door opened soon after. And the old butler entered, quiet as ever. Then not that surprisingly, someone followed him and his manners.
Clay looked up. And paused as a girl stepped inside.
She wore a maid's uniform.
But it didn't feel like one in the medieval era.
Along her waist was black corset drawn tight, it was clean and exactly made to it. While her skirt fell around her legs, and the lace at its edge brushed lightly with each step. The most Maid looking one was the white apron that rested over it, untouched, almost too perfect fit to it.
Lace lined her sleeves and her collar.
A small headpiece sat neatly over her short dark hair.
Everything about her was… perfect.
Not complete but perfect in his eyes.
Clay's gaze moved upward.
Her face was pale, smooth, and no marks could be seen.
Her eyes were black, quiet, but glowing.
They didn't avoid his gaze.
But it's as if they didn't see it either.
They simply existed, steady and overwhelmingly calm.
She walked forward without a sound, each step seemed controlled, and her body moved with a kind of ease that didn't need to be practiced.
Even the way her hips swayed felt natural.
Clay watched her a second too long.
His eyes dropped.
Then returned to her face.
He didn't speak.
Yet, he silently approved.
Alright, she's perfect.
Inside his head he spoke loudly to the floating system.
Alright. I approve.
The moment that thought appeared, the system screen suddenly changed color.
It turned green.
Ding!
Clay's eyes widened.
"…What the hell?"
Before he could react, another message appeared.
Temporary binding with Host has been completed.
Clay's face twisted with shock.
"Hey! I didn't agree to that!"
He pointed angrily at the screen.
"Take it back!"
The system replied calmly.
Host, this is only a temporary trial as previously explained.
Clay paused.
"…A trial?"
His anger slowed slightly.
"That means I can still remove you later?"
Yes, Host.
Clay rubbed his chin.
"Oh."
Then he coughed awkwardly.
"I was just confirming."
After a moment of thought he shrugged.
"Well… since you're already here, I might as well try it."
The system window immediately changed again.
Would the Host like to activate the system on the current target?
Clay looked at the maid again.
She stood quietly beside the butler with her hands folded politely in front of her apron.
She looked gentle.
Innocent.
Completely harmless.
Clay nodded.
"Sure."
The moment he accepted, a strange warmth flowed through his chest.
The system spoke again.
The Host has successfully bonded with the Assassin Maid.
Clay blinked.
"…Assassin maid?"
Before he could question it, another alert appeared.
Ding!
Danger detected!
Clay frowned.
"What?"
The message flashed again.
Danger!
Danger!
The maid is an assassin and currently executing a plan!
Clay didn't even get the chance to react when something cold slid against his neck.
A blade.
It pressed just enough for him to feel it. Not cutting yet. Not even making him bleed as if it was a warning.
The maid was already behind him.
He hadn't heard her move.
Hadn't felt it.
One moment she was in front of him—
The next, she was there.
Close enough that a single push would end it.
Her face hadn't changed at all. It was still calm and composed as if this was nothing more than routine.
Her cool, smooth and almost gentle voice followed a second later.
"If you want him to live," she said, her tone even, almost polite, "you will follow every instruction I give from now on, " and she added a brief pause. "Understand?"
The old servant looked completely stunned.
The maid then reached into the pocket hidden beneath her skirt and took out a small object.
"Here," she said while holding it toward Clay's mouth. "Eat this."
Clay instinctively swallowed when the object touched his lips.
The system instantly reacted.
Ding!
The Host has been poisoned.
Clay's eyes widened.
"I didn't even sense her killing intent."
He muttered under his breath.
"As a paladin, how did I miss that?"
Then he suddenly remembered.
His mana was gone earlier.
Without mana flowing through his senses, his awareness had dropped to the level of a normal human.
The maid spoke again.
"You look surprised," she said calmly. "You're wondering why you couldn't detect my intent."
She leaned closer to his ear.
"That's because I never intended to kill you."
Her tone sounded almost casual.
"I only need resources."
She removed the knife slightly but kept it close enough to cut him if necessary.
"As long as you provide what I want, I will leave you alive."
Clay remained silent.
He truly had no idea how to respond to this ridiculous situation.
At that moment another window appeared in front of him.
Would the Host like to open the reward for obtaining a Harem member?
Clay blinked.
He nodded immediately.
The system responded with a cheerful sound.
Ding!
Reward obtained.
All previously cultivated mana has been restored to the Host.
Clay's eyes widened.
The message continued.
Additional reward granted for accepting the trial. The Host's total cultivated mana has been doubled.
A powerful wave of energy exploded inside his body.
Mana rushed through his veins like a storm returning after a long drought.
Clay's body filled with strength again.
The familiar— but more stronger warmth of holy light surged through his chest.
The maid noticed the change immediately.
Her eyes widened.
Too late.
Clay grabbed her wrist with terrifying speed.
Then he lifted her body from the ground and threw her upward before catching her again and slamming her violently onto the floor.
The impact cracked the wooden boards.
Clay stood above her with glowing holy light surrounding his body like a blazing aura.
"Girl," he said calmly while looking down at her stunned expression, "you are beautiful."
Then his voice became colder.
"But I don't like people threatening me."
He raised his fist.
The maid laughed softly despite being pinned beneath him.
"You're poisoned," she reminded him.
"Are you really going to kill me?"
Clay's fist tightened.
"I don't care."
He drove his arm downward.
At the exact moment his punch struck—
BOOM!